§ MR. GODDARDsaid, he would beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works, Whether his attention has been directed to the very crowded state of a portion of Park Lane, adjoining Piccadilly, and the great delay and consequent inconvenience sustained by the public thereby; and whether it is his intention to propose any measure with a view of obviating the same?
MR. COWPER, in reply, said, that the narrowness of the entrance at the southern end of Park Lane undoubtedly led to great obstruction and inconvenience. At one point the thoroughfare was only wide enough to allow two carriages abreast; but while he fully admitted the inconvenience which arose to the public, he could not admit that the Department over which he presided was in the slightest degree responsible for it. Park Lane was not the property of the Crown, and was not in any respect under his jurisdiction. There was, however, an authority which could deal with the subject—the parish of St. George's, Hanover Square. By the Act of last year parishes and district boards had the power of expending the rates in widening streets, such as Park Lane, with the consent of the Metropolitan Board of Works; and they had also the power of raising money for that purpose on the security of the rates. The parish of St. George's, Han-over Square, was a very wealthy one. Its 1333 affairs were managed by men of business and experience, and he hoped their attention would be drawn to the very great obstruction and inconvenience to which the hon. Member referred.